The cessation of issuing Russian documents has caused a stir in Abkhazia.

In Abkhazia, not only the issuance of Russian passports but also the exchange of driver's licenses for Russian ones has been suspended. Several Abkhaz politicians criticized their colleagues whose statements prompted the Russian side to close the issuance points, while local activists supported the decision.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," on February 6, the Russian Embassy in Abkhazia announced the cessation of issuing Russian passports in Abkhazia. This decision was made due to statements by Abkhaz MPs questioning the legality of the issuance points for Russian documents that opened in January.

The Abkhazian Ministry of Internal Affairs announced the closure of passport application centers

The document collection centers established on the premises of the Abkhazian Ministry of Internal Affairs' passport department in Sukhum, Ochamchira, and Gagra will be closed, the Abkhazian Ministry of Internal Affairs announced on its Telegram channel on February 6.

The department explained that on February 6, a letter was received from the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs recalling specialists and equipment from the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs' migration service who had previously arrived in Abkhazia to organize the issuance of Russian passports to Abkhazian citizens who also hold Russian citizenship.

"In the future, citizens of the Republic of Abkhazia who also hold Russian citizenship "Residents of the Federation can obtain relevant government services directly from the territorial offices of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs," the publication states.

Acceptance of applications for Russian driver's licenses has been suspended

On the same day, the Abkhaz Ministry of Internal Affairs received a similar letter from the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs recalling Russian traffic police officers who, since April 2025, had been exchanging Abkhaz driver's licenses for Russian ones for Abkhaz drivers holding Russian citizenship.

The acceptance of documents at the State Traffic Inspectorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia has been suspended.

"Due to these circumstances, the acceptance of documents at the State Traffic Inspectorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia has been suspended. In the future, Russian driver's licenses can only be obtained within the Russian Federation," the ministry announced.

According to the department's publication, 19,140 applications for driver's license renewals have been received from Abkhaz citizens, 18,050 Russian-style licenses have been issued, and 16,146 have been issued. Thus, 2,994 applicants did not have time to obtain Russian driver's licenses.

"We also remind you that after April 1 of this year, Abkhaz drivers who hold Russian citizenship will not be able to drive a vehicle in the Russian Federation without Russian driver's licenses," the publication notes.

Abkhaz politicians emphasized the unofficial nature of the deputies' statements

The actions of "individual deputies" have deprived Abkhazian citizens of the opportunity to obtain Russian documents, United Abkhazia Party Chairman Alkhas Barzania and the party's political council stated on February 6.

Irresponsible statements in the media forced the Russian side to recall its employees

"Following the meeting of the Defense and National Security Committee on February 4, a number of deputies publicly questioned the legality of the issuance of documents and the work of Russian specialists. Although the committee did not officially accept recommendations to terminate the procedure, irresponsible statements in the media forced the Russian side to recall its employees," the party's Telegram channel stated.

The work of the checkpoints was organized in accordance with interstate agreements and in agreement with the Abkhaz authorities, the statement's authors recalled. "Attempts to declare the procedure for documenting citizens 'illegal' indicate either a misunderstanding of the mechanisms involved (the presence of specialists does not contradict Abkhaz legislation) or a deliberate desire to destabilize the situation," the publication stated.

About 500 people have already applied for Russian passports.

The simplification of the document issuance procedure was a "tremendous benefit" for residents of Abkhazia, who are now deprived of this opportunity. "The situation has already hit specific people: about 500 people managed to submit applications for Russian Federation passports, but due to the destructive actions of deputies, these applications will remain unconsidered," United Abkhazia stated, emphasizing that "the forms themselves were produced in the Russian Federation" and "this did not pose any threat to sovereignty."

We still need to think about the people first.

Aide to the President of Abkhazia for International Cooperation Sergey Shamba also commented on the cancellation of issuing Russian passports in Abkhazia.

"This, of course, will create more inconvenience for people, we still need to think about the people first... Many elderly people are already calling me, asking "questions about what to do in this situation," he was quoted as saying on his Telegram channel, United Abkhazia.

Shamba called on "individual Abkhaz political figures" to put the interests of citizens first, the publication notes.

Questions were raised regarding the regulatory framework on the Abkhaz side.

Abkhazian parliament member Akhra Pachuliya also noted that parliament had not made any official statements regarding the illegality of issuing passports.

"If individual deputies did speak out, then, as far as I know, questions arose regarding the regulatory framework on the Abkhaz side - what mechanisms were developed to implement the project after ratification," Apsnypress quoted him as saying on February 6.

Activists from Apsuaa Rymch supported parliamentary initiative

In turn, the public movement "Apsuaa Rymch" supported the decision to stop issuing Russian documents. "The situation in which we in Abkhazia allowed the mass issuance of Russian internal passports and Russian driver's licenses is seriously concerning," the Telegram channel "Gazeta.abh" quoted the organization's statement on February 6.

The issuance of internal documents of one state on the territory of another means a loss of sovereignty.

"The issuance of internal documents is not a matter of convenience, but a matter of sovereign state functions," the authors of the statement explained. "Union with the Russian Federation does not abolish Abkhazia's sovereignty. The allies do not substitute each other for key state functions—passports, legal registration, and administrative jurisdiction. In global practice, the mass issuance of internal documents from one state on the territory of another signifies the loss of sovereignty and the formation of a protectorate," the activists stated.

In their opinion, "citizens' wishes cannot serve as an excuse for the institutional weakness of the government." "Issuing internal Russian passports here in Abkhazia is not a matter of concern for the people. It is the result of managerial failure and the political irresponsibility of our officials. The public movement "Apsuaa Rymch" insists on a public political and legal assessment of the actions of responsible officials; and on a final and uncompromising end to the practice of extraterritorially issuing internal Russian documents," the publication states.

As a reminder, on August 8, 2008, Russia intervened in the armed conflict between Georgia and South Ossetia and subsequently recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Since then, Georgia considers Abkhazia and South Ossetia to be territories occupied by Russia, according to a "Caucasian Knot" report on the "Five-Day War" of 2008.